Shipperd rewarded for Victoria success

On a day dominated by the announcement of Australia's new coach, another coaching decision almost slipped under the radar. Greg Shipperd has benefited from Victoria's outstanding 2006-07 season with a two-year reappointment as the Bushrangers' coach.

Victoria sit on top of the Pura Cup table and second in the Ford Ranger Cup, having last month claimed their second successive Twenty20 title. Shipperd said Victoria were well-placed heading into the last few rounds in each competition, despite the likely continued loss of their captain and vice-captain to the Australia side.

Shipperd said Cameron White and Brad Hodge were key players but Victoria's depth would mean the Bushrangers could get by without them. "There are a couple of good prospects there," Shipperd told the Herald Sun.

"Robert Quiney and Aiden Blizzard are probably the two we've looked at closely throughout this season with their second XI and Premier Cup form." Quiney struggled in his few limited-overs outings for Victoria this season but an unbeaten 215 in Melbourne's grade cricket on the weekend could make him the frontrunner to replace Hodge.

Shipperd, who in 2003-04, his first season as coach, took Victoria to their first Pura Cup win in more than a decade, said hosting and winning the final this year was the team's focus. "It would be foolish not to be positive about that possibility," he said.